Mechanical stoker



March 5, 1935. J. w. MYERS MECHANICAL STOKER Original Filed Oct. 18,1930 In #6 72 {or JZ/m Vflyers i i'i'ofizey locomotive tender.

Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES MECHANICAL STOKER John W. Myers,Roanoke, Va., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, acorporation of Delaware 7 Original application October 1 8, 1930, SerialNo.

Divided and this application August 30, 1933, Serial No. 687,406

16 Claims.

My invention relates to mechanical stokers for locomotives and. it hasfor its principal object the provision of improved means fortransferring and conveying fuel from the locomotive tender to the firebox of the boiler of the locomotive.

, The primary feature of the present invention consists in providing thestoker with a conduit disposed below the floor of the tender, theconduit being movably mounted so as to rotate about a substantiallyvertical axis and to rock about a horizontal transversely extendingaxis.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the stoker with aconduit having a substantially horizontal section disposed beneath thefloor of the tender and an upwardly inclined section leading to thelocomotive, said sections being rigidly connected by a spherical sectionand conveyor members disposed within said horizontal and upwardlyinclined sections, the conveying members being universally connectedwithin the spherical sections.

Other and more specific features of the invention residing inadvantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts will hereinafterappear and be pointed out in the claims.

, In the drawing. illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of thestoker and associated I parts of the locomotive and tender;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the forward portionof the stoker, showing the joint between the conduit sections;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of a portion of thesupporting bracket for the conduit of the stoker underlying the tenderfloor; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the driving mechanism for the stoker.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 1 indicates a portion of alocomotive which may be of any desired construction and 2 indicates thetender is a conduit 3 having rigidly connected sections 4 and 5. Thesection 4 may be substantially horizontal and is disposed beneath thefloor of the tender while the section 5 inclines upwardly and extendsbeyond the tender toward the locomotive. The section 4 of the conduit ispreferably of trough shape and is adapted to receive coal from thelocomotive tender through an opening 6 formed in thefioor of the coalbin. This opening extends for substantially the entire Movably mountedon thelength of the coal bin and may be closed by a discharge end ofwhich is contiguous to the, 1 0;

rear wall 61 of the firebox of the locomotive and the portion of thedischarge end nearest the firebox wall terminates adjacent the loweredge of. V the firing opening 9 formed in the latter. The. lower portionof the conduit 8 is of substantially cylindrical shape in cross sectionand is connected to the conduit 3 by a ball joint.

This ball joint is formed by providing the lower end of the conduit 8with'a spherically shaped portion 10 within which is disposed a sleevell. The sleeve is slidably mounted on the forward. end of the conduit 3and its exterior surface is spherically shaped to correspond with theinner, surface of the portion 10. The spherically shapedportion or shell10 comprises theparts 10a and 10b, which parts, when assembled arerigidly fastened together by suitable means, as by thev bolts 10cpassing through the lugs 10d. The ad-. jacent marginal edges of thespherically shaped portion 10 and the riser conduit 8 are provided withthe laterally extending flanges 50 and 58 respectively, and are rigidlyattached to each other by suitable fastening means, as by the bolts 51passing through the flanges 50 and 58. Adjacent its upper end theconduit 8 is formed with laterally projecting portions or lugs 12whereby the conduit may be conveniently rigidly secured. to the backwall of the firebox by any suitable. means such as bolts. The lower endof the con-; duit may also be rigidly secured to the locomotive} by abracing member 14.

The cross sectional configuration of the con-. duit 8 progressivelychanges from adjacent its' lower end where it is of substantiallycylindrical form to adjacent its upper end where it is of substantiallyrectangular form. The side walls of. the conduit progressively divergefrom adjacent. the lower end of the latter to the upper end there-f ofwhile the forward and rearward walls of the conduit are substantiallyparallel throughout; their entire lengths. The rear and side Wallspreferably extend upwardly beyond the front or forward wall of theconduit and terminate in substantially the same horizontal plane. Alongtheir marginal edges the side walls may be conveniently formed withsubstantially horizontally disposed flanges 15 for reinforcing thelaterally projecting portions 12 and rigidifying the discharge end ofthe conduit as a whole. 5 The upper end of the forward wall of theconduit together with. adjacent portions of the side walls may, ifdesired, extend slightly into the firing opening 9. Secured to theforward wall adjacent its upper end is a distributing table 16 whichextends forwardly through the firing opening into the firebox.

Above the upper end of the conduit 8 is a door frame or casing 17 havingtop and side portions surrounding corresponding portions of the firingopening; the casing being preferably formed as a separate unit insteadof as an integral part of the conduit. in spaced relation to the backwall of the firebox and in substantially horizontal alinement with'theits underside from adjacent the doors to the back wall of the firebox.It will thus be seen that the casing encloses the discharge end of theconduit and forms an upwardly extending continuation thereof. Althoughthe casing may be secured to the back wall in any desired manner it ispreferred toprovide it with a laterally'projecting portion 19"whereby'the casing mayconvenient'ly be secured rigidly to the back wall of the'firebox by any suitable means such as bolts. The portion 19 is spacedslightly from adjacent portionsof the back wall so that it is onlynecessary to machine relatively small portions of the frame toenable'the frameto contact evenly with the back wall. For'advancing fuelthrough the conduits into th'effirebox screw conveyors 21 are disposedwithin th'esections'4" and 5 of conduit 3. These conveyors areuniversally connected as at 2 2 and in order to prevent coal frombecoming clogged around the universal joint, the latter is disposedwithin a spherical section 23 which is interposed between and rigidlysecured to sections 4 and 5 of 50 the conduits, the effective area ofthe spherical Sectionbeing at least as great or'preferably greate'r'than the'adjoining portion of section 4. If desired, the conveyordisposed within section 4 may be supported intermediate its'ends by abearing 55 member 24. This bearing member is formed with a portion 25extending transversely of the conduit above the; conveyor and with acentrally disposed depending portion 26 which is enlarged at its lowerend and provided with an opening for 60 receiving the conveyor shaft.

For driving the conveyors an engine 27 is rigidly mounted on thelocomotive below the floor of the cab. Through the intermediacy'of aworm or pinion gear housed within a box 28 secured to 66 the locomotiveadjacent the engine, motion is transmitted to a shaft 29 which isuniversally con nected by a slip joint 30' to a shaft 31 extendingrearwardly' along the side of the section 4 of the V conduit 3. Throughgears contained within a 7 housing 32 mounted on the inner end ofsection 4 ofconduit 3 motion is transmitted from shaft 31 tothesc're'wconveyor.

Due t'oth'e presence of. various appurtenances on the locomotivedifficulty is often encountered in positioning the engine 27 and gearbox 28 in Movably mounted upon th'e'ca'sing alinement so that the engineshaft may be directly connected to the cooperating gear shaft. Theengine shaft and gear shaft are therefore joined by a slip joint anduniversal connections. The universal connections permit the engine andgear box 28 to be moved independently of each other either forwardorbackward while the slip joint permits them to be moved sidewise ofeach other. Thus it will be perceived that the motor and gear box 28 maybe shifted into any desired relation so that they may be mounted on thelocomotive in such manner as not to interfere with the variousattachments and appurtenances with which the latter may be provided.

To'permit of vertical and horizontal angling of conduit 3 with respectto conduit 8 the former is mounted so as to rotate or pivot about asubstantially vertical axis as well as to rock about plate portionsecured by a plurality of rivets 34 to the underside of section 4 andwith downwardly extending'portions 35 formed with a substantiallyhorizontal lower member 36. This member extends transversely of thesection on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the latter and issupported adjacent its ends by angle 7 Each of these angle'members ismembers 37. provided with a substantially horizontal flange or portion39 and with a substantially vertical flange or portion 40, the latterextending upwardly adjacent the outer end of the member 36 of thebracket; The undersides of the end portions of the member 36 arepreferably curved so that the bracket and conduit may rock about atransverse- 1y extending horizontal axis.

The angle members 37 which extend forwardly and downwardly forattachment to an adja cent portion of the tender are supported adjacentthe bracket 35 by substantially channel shaped members 41. Interposedbetween the horizontal portions 39 of the angle members and the channelmembers 41 is a transversely extending bar 42 which underlies and isadjacent to the member 36 of the bracket. The bar and member areprovided with registering apertures for receiving a vertical pivot pin43 which, although it enables rotation or pivoting of the conduit 3about a vertical axis, prevents longitudinal movement thereof. The pin43 may be conveniently supported by a bracket 44 secured to theunderside of the bar 42. The outer ends of the member 36 are also curvedso that when the bracket 35 and con-' duit rotate about the pivot pin 43sufficient clearance will be provided between them and the verticalflanges of the angle members 37. It will, of course, be appreciated thatsufiicient clearance is also provided between the pin 43 and the openingtherefor in the member 36 to permit free rocking movement of the bracketand conduit about a transverse horizontal axis. From the foregoing itwill be perceived that the conduit 3 is movably connected to the tenderin such manner as to compensate for relative movement between thelocomotive and tender.

Due to the fact that section 3 is capable of moving relatively to thetender and therefore to the opening in the floor of the coal bin throughwhich coal is permitted to fall into the conduit, means is provided forpreventing the escape of coal between the sides of the conduit and thefloor of the bin. This means comprises a ring member 45 surrounding theopening and is movably'supported on the underside of the floor bybrackets 46. The ring member is of angle shape in cross section having avertical flange 47 extending downwardly within the conduit and asubstantially horizontal flange '48 interposed be-' tween the supportingbracket 46 and the floor of the tender. The brackets are formed so thatthe ring may move relatively thereto with the conduit and they arepreferably positioned nearer the forward end of the ring-than therearward end thereof. By supportingthe ring off center in'this mannerits rearward end will tend to-move downwardly while its forward end willtend to move upwardly into intimate contact with the floor of the coalbin. This is particularly desirable as the coal which is crowded intothe forward: end of section 4 of conduit 3 will be prevented fromescaping from between the horizontal flange 48 of the ring andportionsof the coal bin floor adjacent the forward end of the opening 6.

In the operation of the stoker coal falls by gravity into the troughsection of'the conduit 3 and is propelled forwardly therethrough' andthrough the upwardly inclined section 5 and con-' duit 8 by the conveyorscrews 21'. Although the forward end of the conveyor screw terminates inthe lower portion of the conduit 8 coal is easily lifted upwardlytherein in a column by the advancing fuel. However, to prevent packingof the fuel in the angle formed by section 5 of conduit 3 and conduit 8the conveyor screwextends to the forward wall of the latter. The coalemerges into the door casing or frame 1'7.through the lower portionthereof and falls by gravity over the discharge end of the forward wallof conduit8 onto the distributing table or plate and from therepropelled by. the steam blastinto the firebox. It is to be particularlynoted that the coal falls by its own weight into the firebox through thefiring opening instead of being directed through the. firing opening bya curved conduit.- This construction has been found to be mostadvantageous in the handling of wet coal since the coal. emerges fromthe discharge end of the conduit in an unsupported column and is free tofall by gravity directly through the firing opening onto thedistributing plate.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that simple and reliable meanshas been provided for conveying fuel from the tender to the locomotive.Furthermore, the construction of the stoker is such that wet fuel maybeefficiently handled without danger of the stoker being renderedinoperative by packing of the fuel. Furthermore, it is to be noted thatthe locomotive and tender may be readily disconnected because of theslip joint 30 in'the driving mechanism and the connection between theforward end of section 5 of conduit 3 and conduit 8.

This application is a division of my' application filed October 18,1920, Serial No.'489,642.

I claim:

l. In a stoking apparatus, the combination with a locomotive and tender,of a rigid conduit mounted on the tender, said conduit having asectionbeneath the fioor of the tender fixedly mounted thereon with respect tolongitudinal movement thereof and being "pivotally' section interposedbetween and rigidly connecting the first and second named sections, the

effective area within the intermediate section being greater than .theelfectivearea of the second named section, a screw conveyor within thefirst andsecond named sections, said conveyors being universallyconnected within said intermediate section, and a conduit rigidlymounted-on the locomotive, the adjacent ends ofsaid conduits arrangedwith one another to permitlongitudinal and universal movementtherebetween.

2. In a stoking apparatus, the combination with a locomotive and tender,of a rigid conduit mounted on the tender, said conduit :having auniversally connected within said spherical section, and a conduitrigidly mounted on thelocomotive, the adjacent ends of said conduitsarranged with'one another to permit longitudinal and universal movementtherebetween.

3. In a stoking apparatus, the combination with a tender and alocomotive, of a conduit dis posed beneath the floor 'of the tender'forreceiving fuel therefrom, means for movably' connect ing the conduit tothe tender involving a supporting base comprising spaced members, a barconnecting said members, 'angularly shaped members respectively havinghorizontally and vertically disposed portions secured to said bar, and abracket member rigidly secured to the conduit, a vertical pivot pinextending through said bar and 'said bracket, the end portions of saidbracket resting upon the horizontally disposed portions of saidangularly shaped members and being curved on their undersides to permitrocking movement of said conduit about a substantially horizontaltransversely extending axis.

' 4. In a stoking apparatus, a transfer conduit,

a supporting base below the conduit, a transversely extending bracketrigid with and depending from the conduit intermediate its ends andincluding end members spaced laterally on opposite sides ofthelongitudinal axis of the conduit and extending beyond the sides ofthe trough, said end members slidably and rockably engaging said base topermit rocking movement of the conduit about a substantially horizontaltransversely extending axis'and laterally swinging'movement of theconduit, and a pin connection between said bracket and said base, saidpin connection fixing said conduit against longitudinal movement.

5. In a 'stoking apparatus, a transfer conduit, a supporting base belowthe conduit, a transversely extending bracket rigid with and dependingfrom the conduit intermediate its ends and including end members spacedlaterally on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the conduit andextending beyond the sides of the trough, said end members slidably androckably engaging said base to permit rocking movement of the conduitabout a substantially horizontal transversely extending axis andlaterally swingingmovement of the conduit, and a vertical pin mounted insaid base and engaging said bracket constituting a pivot for the lateralswinging movement of the. conduit and being fixed with the base: and thebracket, said pin fixing said conduit against longitudinal movement.

6. In a stoking apparatus for. a locomotive and tender, a conduitdisposed beneath the fioor of the tender .for receiving fuel therefrom,means for'movably connecting the conduit to the tender involvingasupporting base, said base including apair of longitudinally extendingangular members having horizontally and vertically disposed portions,said members being spaced apart on opposite sides of the longitudinalaxis of the conduit, a transversely; extending bracket rigidly secured,to the conduit, the outerend portions of said bracket being received bysaid angular members, a vertical pivot pin extending through saidbracket and said supporting base, the end faces of said bracket outerend portions being curvedto permit pivotal movement of said conduitaboutthe axis of the vertical pin andthe under sides of said bracket outerend portions being curved to permit rocking movement of said conduitabout a substantially horizontal trans verselyextending axis.

7. In. a locomotive and tender, a fuel conduit system comprising atender conduit unit includinga rearward conduit sectionon the tender andaforwardly extending conduit section rigid with the rearward section,said rearward conduit section being movably mounted intermediate itsends on the tender with reference to movement about vertical andtransverse axes and being fixed against longitudinal movement, a conduitsection rigidly mounted on the locomotive, a sleeve disposed between therigidly mounted locomotive conduit section and the forwardly extendingconduit section of the tender conduit unit, said sleeve forming a partof a universal connection with one" of said conduit sections and beinginslidable engagement with the other ofv said conduit sections forproviding universal movement and relativev longitudinal movement betweensaid tender conduit unit and said rigidly mounted locomotive conduitsection.

8; In a locomotive and tender, a fuel conduit system comprising a tenderconduit unit including a rearward conduit section on the tenderand. a

forwardly extending conduit section rigid with the rearward section,said rearward conduit section being movably mounted on the tender withreferl ence to movement about vertical and transverse axes and beingfixed against longitudinal movement, a conduit section rigidly mountedon the locomotive, a sleeve disposed between the rigidly mountedlocomotive conduit section and the forwardly extending conduit sectionof the tender conduit unit, said sleeve forming a part of auniversalconnection with one of said conduit sections and being inslidable engagement with the other of said conduit sections forproviding universal movement and relative longitudinal movement betweensaid tender conduit unit and said rigidly mounted locomotive conduitsection.

9. Incombination, with an intercoupled locomotive and tender, the formerhaving a firebox and the latter a fuel bin, a flexible conduitv systemextending forwardly from beneath said bin to the locomotive and arrangedto deliver fuel to the firebox thereof and comprising a conduit sectionrigidly mounted on the locomotive, a conduit section disposedimmediately beneath said fuel bin and fixedly mounted on the tender withrespect to longitudinal movement thereof and pivotally mounted on thetender intermediate its ends'about transverse and vertical axes, andasleeve telescopically mounted with the forward endgportion of: thesecondnamed conduit section. to form. anextension thereof, said sleeve being.universally connected'to the first named conduit section and providinglongitudinal movement between .the named conduit sections.

10. In combination, with'an intercoupled locomotive and tender, theformer havinga firebox and the latter a fuel bin, 2, flexible conduitsystem extending forwardly from beneath said'bin to the locomotive andarranged to deliver fuel to the firebox thereof and comprising aconduit-section rigidly mounted on the locomotive, a, conduitsectionzpivotally mounted intermediate its ends immediately. beneathsaid'fuel binof said tender and being fixed against longitudinalmovement with respect thereto, and a sleeve telescopically mounted withthe forward end portion of the second named conduit section to form anextension thereof, said sleeve being flexibly attached to the jfirstnamed conduit section and providing for longitudinal movement betweenthe named conduit. sections.

11. In combination, with an intercoupled locomotive and'tender, theformer having a firebox and, the latter a fuel bin, a flexible conduitsystem extending forwardly from beneath said bin to the locomotive andarranged to deliver fuel to the firebox thereof and:,comprising aconduit section rigidly mounted on the locomotive, a rigid conduitsection pivotallymounted intermediate its ends immediately beneath saidfuel bin'of said tender and being fixed against longitudinal: move--ment with respect thereto, and a sleeve telescopically mounted with the.forward end portion of the second named. conduit section to form anextension thereof, said sleeve being flexibly attached to the firstnamed conduit section and providing for longitudinal movement betweenthe named conduit sections.

. 12. In combination, with an intercoupled locomotive and tender, theformer having a firebox with a backwall having a firing opening thereinand the latter a fuel bin, 2, flexible conduit system extendingforwardly from beneath said bin to said firing. opening and comprising ariser conduit fixed on said locomotive and communicating with saidfiring opening, a trough section pivotally mounted intermediate its endsimmediately beneath said. fuel bin of said tender and fixed againstlongitudinal movement with respect thereto, said trough member includinga forward-- ly extending tubular conduit portion, and a sleevetelescopically mounted with said tubular portion to form an. extensionthereof, said sleeve being flexibly attached to said riser conduit.

13. In combination, with an intercoupled locomotive and tender, theformer having a firebox with a backwall having a firing opening thereinand the latter a fuel bin, at flexible conduit system exendingforwardlyfrom beneath said bin to said firing opening, and comprising ariserconduit fixed rigidly to said backwall and communi' cating with saidfiring opening, a trough member pivotally mounted intermediate its endsimmediately beneath. said fuel bin of said tender and. being fixedagainst longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said trough memberhaving formed rigidly therewith a forwardly extending inclined tubularconduit portion, and a sleevetelescopically mounted with saidtubularconduit portion to form an extension thereof, said sleeve being flexiblyattached to said riser conduit.

14. In combination, with an intercoupled locomotive. and tender, the.former having a firebox.

of the second named conduit section to form an:

with a backwall having a firing opening therein and thelatter a fuelbin, a flexible conduit system extending forwardly from beneath said binto said firing opening and comprising a riser conduit fixed rigidly tosaid backwall and communicating with said firing opening, a troughmember pivotally mounted intermediate its ends immediately beneath saidfuel bin of said tender and being fixed against longitudinal movementwith respect thereto, said trough member having formed rigidly therewitha forwardly extending inclined tubular conduit portion, and a sleevetelescopically mounted with said tubularconduit portion to form anextension thereof, said sleeve being flexibly attached to said riserconduit, the latter being inclined from the horizontal at a greaterangle of inclination than the said inclined tubular conduit portion.

15. In combination with an intercoupled locomotive and tender, theformer having a firebox and the latter a fuel bin, a flexible conduit'system extending forwardly from beneath said bin to the locomotive andarranged to deliver fuel to the firebox thereof and comprising a conduitsection rigidly mounted on the locomotive, a. conduit section mounted onthe tender, a sleeve telescopically mounted with the forward end portionextension thereof, said sleeve being universally connected to the firstnamed conduit section and providing longitudinal movement between thenamed conduits, and means for flexibly mounting the second named conduitsection on the tender, said means including a bracket depending from theunder side of the second named conduit and intermediate the endsthereof, a support rigidly mounted on the tender beneath said bracket,and a vertically disposed pivot pin passing through said bracket andsaid support.

16; In combination with an intercoupled-loco motive and tender, theformerhaving a firebox and the latter a fuel bin, a fiexible conduitsystem extending forwardly from beneath said bin to the locomotiveandarranged to deliver fuel to the firebox thereof and comprising aconduit section rigidly mounted on-the locomotive, a conduitsection'mounted on the tender, avsleeve telescopically mounted 'with"the forward end pQrtion of the second named'conduit section to form anextension thereof, said sleeve being universallyconnected to the firstnamed conduit section and providing longitudinal movement between thenamed conduits, and means for flexibly mounting the second named conduitsection on the tender,

said means including a bracket depending from the under side of thesecond named conduitsection and intermediate the ends thereof, saidbracket having a transverse member provided with curved portions at theextremities thereof, a support rigidly mounted on the tender beneathsaid bracket,

the curved portions of said transverse member 7 resting on said support,and a vertically disposed pivot pin engaging said bracket and saidsupport.

' JOHN W. MYERS.

